THE OYSTER AND THE OYSTER INDUSTRY. 7 



MARYLAND. 



The principal oyster beds are in the Chesapeake Bay, there being 

 some, however, in Chincoteague Bay and Potomac River. The num- 

 ber of oyster houses at the main centers of trade are asfollovvs: Cris- 

 field, 40; Baltimore, 28 (15 being oyster canneries); Cambridge, 25; 

 Oxford, 15; Annapolis, 13; Tilghmah, 8; and St. Michaels, 6. There 

 are about 160 oyster houses in all in the State. Baltimore is the only 

 city in the State where oysters are steamed and canned, and is the 

 most northerly point on the coast where this process is employed. 



VIRGINIA. 



The waters covering the main oyster beds of the State are those of 

 Chesapeake Bay, Chincoteague Bay, and the eastern coast of Accomac 

 and Northampton Counties, and the Potomac, Rappahannock, York, 

 and James Rivers. There are about 35 oyster houses, 19 at Norfolk 

 and Portsmouth, 2 at Hampton, 1 at Phoebus, 3 at West Point, 

 2 at Urbanna, and others scattered about in Northampton, Middle- 

 sex, Lancaster, and Accomac Counties. The oysters are shipped 

 in the shell or shucked, on ice, none being canned. One firm prepares 

 an oyster powder from the dried meats. 



NORTH CAROLINA. 



Foiu--fifths of the oyster beds of this State are in Pamlico Sound. 

 There is one cannery at each of the following points: Beaufort, 

 Morehead City, Washington, Vandimere, Davis, Bay River, and 

 Sea Level. There is one shucking house, or "raw house," as such a 

 place is termed in the South to distinguish it from a cannery, at 

 Newbern and several at Wilmington. 



SOUTH CAROLINA. 



Most of the oyster beds are in St. Helena and Port Royal Sounds 

 near the southern extremity of the coast. There are five canneries 

 at Charleston and six at Beaufort, besides two or tlu-ee at smaller 

 cities. 



GEORGIA, 



The oyster beds are found along the entire coast line, especially 

 in St. Catherines, Sapelo, Do Boy, Altamaha, St. Simons, St. Andrews, 

 and Cumberland Sounds. There are 18 canneries in the State — 

 four at Savannah, and the rest scattered along the coast. There are 

 five wholesale dealers in raw oysters, besides several retailers at 

 Savannah, Brunswick, and other points. 



FLORIDA. 



The principal oyster industry of the State is located at Apalachi- 

 cola, where there are four canneries and nearly a dozen raw houses, 

 the oysters coming from Apalachicola Bay and contiguous waters. 

 There is a small oyster business at Carabelle and some beds at Cedar 

 Keys. A few oysters are canned at Fernandina, on the east coast. 

 There is a small local oyster business at other points in the State. 



